Iván Palazzese

Iván Palazzese ( born January 2, 1962 in Alba Adriatica, Italy, † May 28, 1989 in Hockenheim, Germany ) was a Venezuelan motorcycle racer.

His most successful period was Palazzese in the motorcycle world championship in 1982, when he in the 125 cc class of the Grand Prix of Sweden and the Grand Prix of Finland won and finished the season in third place behind Angel Nieto and Eugenio Lazzarini.

Palazzese died in an accident during the World Motorcycle Championship 1989 Grand Prix of Germany at the Hockenheimring. Palazzese drove directly behind the Austrian Andreas Preining when its engine failed and the bike suddenly slowed, thereby Palazzese collided with Preining. He fell on the track and was even as he tried to get up, hit by the bikes of riders Bruno Bonhuil and Fabio Barchitta who overthrew also. The driver Virginio Ferrari tried in vain to revive Palazzese. He succumbed to his injuries still on the track.

In his native town of Alba Adriatica was erected in honor of Palazzese a monument.